Timetable

Junior Year and Earlier

For the advanced planner, you can begin your graduate school search preparation by taking these steps:

Complete a self-assessment. Contact the Center for Career Development at career@drew.edu for information on MyPlan to take an inventory of your skills, interests, and personality type.

Seek advice and guidance from Drew professors. Get to know them and let them get to know you as a person as well as a student.

Determine your area(s) of interest.

Work with Drew professors on research projects or as an academic assistant. If possible, have your work published.

Consider which professors might be able to write your letters of recommendation.

Begin to identify possible programs.

Become a regular reader of current research journals in your field.

Review professional journals and gather names of professors and universities involved in research projects in your area of interest. Contact them to indicate your interest in their work

Start to review individual university websites.

If possible, enroll in a summer program at an institution you would like to attend for graduate school

Make plans to get practical experience in your field during the summer or school year. Do research, an internship, tutor, or volunteer.

Join and attend professional organization meetings/conventions at the local, state, and national levels and on- campus clubs in your field.

Earn membership in national honor societies.

Maintain the highest possible GPA.

Investigate requirements for national scholarships and fellowships.

Begin to prepare for the required standardized admission testing and decide when to take the tests.

Be organized. Keep track of all the information you accumulate.

DON’T PANIC! Most students do not start serious planning until the summer before their senior year. If you were able to get a head start, great! If not, then just keep to a schedule during the summer and in the early fall of your senior year.

Summer Between Junior and Senior Years:

Complete all of the steps listed above.

Determine if you meet the prerequisites.

Compare programs and make a preliminary list of the institutions that interest you.

Take a review course and/or practice for the required standardized admissions tests.

Visit institutions that you are interested in.

As you gain more information, narrow down your list of possible institutions that you will apply to.

Review application requirements of each institution.

Find out the application deadlines

o When does the institution begin accepting applications?

o Does the institution have fixed deadlines or rolling admissions policies?

Research requirements for national scholarships and fellowships.

Review financial aid information at these institutions, learn what is available and how to apply for it.

Estimate the expenses related to applying to graduate school.

Register for the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).

As you know, your schedule will be very busy once you are back on campus. A head start will be very helpful.

Senior Year

September

Meet with faculty members to discuss your personal statement and your preliminary list of programs.

Finalize your list.

Choose recommenders and meet with them.

Visit the Center for Career Development for help in writing your personal statement and/or updating your resume.

Continue to practice for the GRE if you have not already taken it.

Schedule time each week to work on applications and essays.

October

Take the GRE if you have not done so already.

Continue to work on applications and submit them if you are ready.

Write drafts of statements of purpose and begin to have them reviewed.

Request official transcripts to be sure that they are sent in enough time to meet deadlines.

Complete financial aid forms. These forms are often due before application deadlines.

Prepare for the GRE Subject Test if required for your program.

November/December

Note: The competitiveness of programs and rolling admissions policies will determine how much time you really have!

Contact your recommenders and politely remind them of deadlines.

Finalize your essay/statement of purpose.

Take the GRE Subject Test if required.

Submit applications if you have not already done so.

January/February

Follow-up to be sure that all applications, letters of recommendation, and transcripts were received.

Participate in any required auditions or pre-selection interviews.

Think about alternatives to graduate school.

March/April

Try to visit colleges that have accepted you.

Accept or decline offers.

Evaluate your financial situation when you learn the amount of aid that will be available to you. Determine how you will obtain the rest of the funds needed.

Contact your recommenders to tell them about your good news about your acceptance.